Method and apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of webs



June 30, 1970 J, HERD ET AL 3,517,589

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTER'CONNECTING A PLURALITY OF WEBS Filed May 2s, 19ee 2 Sheei's-Sheet 1 FIG].

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June 30, 1970 J, E ET AL 3,517,589

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERCONNECTING A PLURALITY OF Filed May 23, 1966 2 Sheets-rSheet a United States Patent 3,517,589 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERCON- NECTING A PLURALITY 0F WEBS Josef Herd, Munster, near Dieburg, and Hans Helmut Jacob, Darmstadt-Eberstadt, Germany, assiguors to Maschinenfabrik Goebel G.m.b.H., Darmstadt, German Filed May 23, 1966, Ser. No. 552,008 Claims priority, application Germany, May 26, 1965, M 65,380 Int. Cl. B31f 5/02 US. Cl. 931.1 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus and a method for interconnecting superimposed web groups. A punch device provides one web group with tongue-shaped tabs and another web group with openings. The web groups are superimposed so that the tabs in the one group align with the openings in the other group. The tabs are then inserted through the openings to interlock the superimposed web groups.

The invention relates to apparatus for interconnecting the webs of continuous duplicating sets by means of tongue-shaped tabs which are punched out from the individual webs and bent away from the plane of the web. The known connections of this kind generally afford the advantage of the individual webs being reciprocally dis placeable within determined limits. They are distinguished from the connections produced by dots or lines of adhesive, wire clips, and similar connections, which do not permit of such displacement so that, particularly in duplicating sets consisting of numerous layers, the outer webs form bulges and creases for example in the case of being delivered in zig-za-g form, and particularly where webs of this kind are used in typewriters, accounting and similar machines.

Over against the aforementioned advantage of connections in the form of tongues, there is, however the considerable disadvantage that such connections become readily disengaged and thus miss their purpose, particularly where they have to hold together a substantial number of webs. Tongue-like connections which do not have this disadvantage are known, however, their production requires a further machining operation in addition to the punching operation, so that the speed of the webs is limited and connections of this kind are, for this reason alone, unable to meet present-day requirements.

In accordance with the invention, the disadvantages of the known connections obtained by means of tongues are avoided without the advantages thereof being relinquished. In accordance with the invention, this is achieved by providing one or more of the superimposed webs at all of the joints with tongues widening from their base forwardly, and the remaining webs with openings the width of which corresponds to the Width of the tongue-base, through which openings the tongues having a greater width in front than at the base are passed. Which ones of the superimposed webs are to be provided with tongues and which ones to be provided with openings depends particularly upon the properties of the paper or other material of which the individual webs are made. For example, if the uppermost or the lowermost 'web has a greater stiffness than the remaining webs, then it will generally be advantageous to provide only that particular web with openings at the joints, while the remaining webs are provided with tongues which are passed through the openings. When the duplication set is, however, composed of substantially homogeneous webs of writing paper andsheets of carbon 3,517,589 Patented June 30, 1970 paper between them, then it will generally be advantageous for about half the number of webs to be provided with the openings and the remainder with the tongues. Finally, it is unnecessary to provide some of the Webs with the tongues and others with the openings; on the contrary, the upper webs as well as the lower webs may, for example, be provided with tongues and openings in alternating succession, it being only necessary to ensure that the tongues in the upper web are always disposed above the openings in the lower web, and vice versa. Accordingly, the tongues have then to be pressed alternately downwards and upwards from the plane of the web.

Both the tongues and the openings are obtained by cuts punched into the moving webs. The cuts punched for producing the tongues are open on one side, whereas the cuts punched for producing the openings may be closed. However, this results in a substantial number of paper clippings which have to be removed in order to prevent them from causing trouble. This may be avoided, if the cuts punched for producing the openings are also open on one side so that also tongues of preferably rectangular shape are formed by this punching operation. The punched cuts should be applied in such manner that the tongues formed thereby extend in the same direction as the other tongues. They may be bent away from the web plane together with the other tongues and come to lie upon the other tongues which are thus slightly stiffened.

The connections according to the invention may be produced by various methods, which are based particularly on the principle that the webs to be interconnected and divided into two groups, are, in places, guided separately from each other, so that after completion of the punching operations carried out separately, the tongues and the openings belonging to the same joint are returned to superimposed positions and together pass through a tool by which the tongues are pressed through the openings.

This general method maybe modified in various ways. In one modification, one group of webs is passed through a first punching mechanism for producing the tongues, the other group of webs being passed through a second punching mechanism for producing the openings. The relative positions of these punching mechanisms are such that, when the webs are brought together again, the tongues of one group coincide with the openings in the other group. In an alternative method, in which the two groups of webs are also passed through separate punching mechanisms, the tongues and the openings are punched out by the two punching mechanisms alternately. It will be understood that in this case also, the two punching mechanisms should be positioned relatively to each other in such manner that when the webs are brought together again, the tongues in one group coincide with the openings in the other group.

The punched cuts required for the connections may also be produced by a single punching mechanism through which the two groups of webs are passed simultaneously. In order to ensure that the tongues and the openings coincide at the individual joints, one group of webs is first deflected upstream of the punching mechanism so that, after having been brought together with the other group of webs, it is displaced relatively thereto to the extent of the distance between two joints. Thereafter the two groups of webs together are provided in the punching mechanism alternately with tongues and openings, after which one of the two groups of webs is again deflected relatively to the other group of webs with resultant displacement by the same. amount as before.

The openings hereinbefore referred to and mentioned in the following description as distinguished from tongues also include those openings which are punched out incompletely, tongues being left at the edge thereof in the manner hereinbefore described.

A joint and apparatus for carrying out the method of producing such connections are diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the drawings, in which FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of joints on the perforated edge of sets of forms;

FIG. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, the positions of the punched cuts relative to each other;

FIG. 3 is a section through a joint;

FIG. 4 shows the movement of the Web and the disposition of the punching mechanisms and of the tool by which the tongues are pressed through, and

FIG. 5 is a corresponding representation of apparatus operating with a single punching mechanism.

The top parts of FIG. 1 show the perforated edge strips .1 of a plurality of superimposed webs which form a group of webs in the sense of the invention. The webs are provided at determined intervals with openings 2 which are respectively provided between two holes of the edge perforations. The lower part of FIG. 1 shows the perforated edge strips 3 of a second group of webs. The perforated edge strips 3 are provided with tongues 4 at the same intervals as the openings 2 (in the perforated edge strip 1). The two strips 1 and 3 are shown as being disposed side by side, so that the openings and the tongues may be visible more clearly. It will be understood that actually the two strips are superimposed.

FIG. 2 is a corresponding representation, which shows on a substantially enlarged scale the reciprocal positions and relative sizes of the tongues and the openings. In this drawing also, the openings are denoted by the reference numeral 2, and the tongues by the reference numeral 4. The width D of the openings 2 equals the width b of the base of the tongues 4. However, the tongues and the openings are provided in staggered relation, so that the edges 5 are not disposed exactly above the base of the tongues, but the edges *5 and the tongues are reciprocally displaced to the extent a. This applies also to the edge 6 of the openings 2 on one side, and the front edge 7 of the tongues 4 on the other side, the edges 6 and 7 being reciprocally displaced to the extent 0.

A glance at FIG. 2 will show the possible displacements between one group of webs and the other group of webs when one imagines the tongues 4 as having been passed through the openings 2. It will be understood that in this position the tongues 4 may be moved to the left relatively to the openings to at least the extent 0. Upon taking into account that the tongues are resilient and may be slightly compressed, it will be appreciated that a further displacement to the left exceeding the extent a may be effected. FIG. 2 shows also the possibility of displacing the tongues 4 to the right relatively to the openings 2. This movement is limited by the edge 6 of the openings 2 only when the rear part of the tongues has reached a position just forwardly of that edge.

The possibility of displacement hereinbefore described exists, however, not only between the two groups of webs, but also within these groups. This will be understood more clearly upon considering FIG. 3 which shows a section through a joint on a scale which is enlarged once again. This drawing shows that the two uppermost webs 8 and 9 form the upper group of webs. The upper group contains the openings having edges 5 and 6, and the tongues 4, bent away from the lower group of webs, pass through the aforementioned openings. It will be seen at a glance that the group of webs 10, 11 and 12 may be displaced to the right relatively to the group of webs 8 and 9, and that the lowermost tongue 4 slides along the edge 6. It will also be noted that the lower group of webs may be displaced to the left in relation to the upper group of webs. It will, however, also be appreciated that the web 8 may be readily displaced relatively to the web 9 and it will also be noted from the drawing that this applies also to the webs 10, 11 and 12 among each other.

The joints may be produced by a method which may be carried out by the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4. The webs to be interconnected and fed through rolls 13 and 14 are moved apart downstream thereof and thus divided into an upper group of webs 15 and a lower group of webs 16, one group running over a guide roller 17 and the other group running over a guide roller 18 to separate rotating punching mechanisms. The punching mechanism for the group of webs 15 comprises an upper cylinder 19 carrying tools 20, 21, 22 and 23, and a lower cylinder 24 carrying the corresponding counter-tools. The punching tool for the group of webs 16 is of exactly the same construction as that provided for the other group of webs. Secured to the periphery of a cylinder 25 are tools 26, 27, 28 and 29 which cooperate with the countertools provided on the cylinder 30. After completed punching of the two groups of webs, the groups of webs run respectively over guide rollers 31 and 32 to rolls 33 and 34 by which they are brought together and thus assume the same superimposed positions as upstream of the rolls 13 and 14. In this position, the webs pass through between the cylinders 35 and 36 provided with tools 37, 38, .39 and and counter-tools by which the tongues are pressed through the openings.

In one modification of the method, which modification may be carried out by this apparatus, tools for punching out the tongues 4 may be inserted in the cylinder 19. In this case, tools for punching the openings have to be inserted in the cylinder 25. With correct movement of the web, which movement is adjusted to the reciprocal disposition of the punching mechanisms, the tongues of the upper group of webs are, between the rolls 33 and 34, moved to position above the openings in the lower group of webs in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 If necessary, a registering or tube roll may be provided in one of the two groups of the webs in order to ensure exact adjustment. The cylinders 35 and 36 are driven in such manner that their tools coincide exactly with the tongues of the upper web, which tongues are then pressed by these tools through the openings to complete the connection. In this case, the cylinder 36 need only be provided with corresponding recesses.

The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4 may be reversed, so that instead of openings 2, the tongues 4 are produced between the cylinders 25 and 30, the openings being formed between the cylinders 19 and 24. The operation is similar to that hereinbefore described, except that in this case the functions of the cylinders 35 and 36 are interchanged.

All of the connections produced in the manner hereinbefore described extend in the same direction, that is to say, all of the tongues are passed through the openings either downwardly or upwardly. However, connections, in which the tongues are passed through the openings upwardly and downwardly in constantly alternating succession may also be produced. This may also be carried out by the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 4, except that, deviating from the construction hereinbefore described, the two cylinders 19 and 25 have to be provided alternately with punching tools for producing the tongues and with tool for producing the openings. Thus, for example, the tools 20 and 22 may be used for producing the openings, and the tools 21 and 23 may be used for producing the tongues. The cylinder 25 has to be of a similar construction, in that the tools 26 and 28 are suitable for producing the openings, and the tools 27 and 29 are suitable for producing the tongues. In this case also, the tongues and the openings are moved to superimposed positions between the rolls 33 and 34 if the web is guided correctly. In this case, however, the tongues and the openings are disposed alternately at the top and at the bottom. It will be understood that the tools provided on the cylinders 35 and 36 have also to be adjusted in such manner that, for example the tongues are pressed through downwardly exclusively by the tools 37 and 39, whereas the tools 38 and 40 are replaced by recesses in which engage the tools provided on the cylinder 36 by which tools the tongues are pressed through upwardly.

In the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5, the initially superimposed two webs are also moved apart and divided into groups 41 and 43 downstream of the roll 41. The webs of group 42 are guided to the roll 45 by an adjustable roller or an adjustable rod 44. The webs of group 43 run directly from the roll 41 to the roll 45. The extent of displacement of the webs 42 relative to the webs 43 by deflection over the roll 44 has to be equal to the distance between two joints or may be equal to an integral multiple thereof. The exact adjustment may also be effected by displacement of the roller or rod 44.

'Between the rolls 45 and 46 the webs are passed simultaneously through the punching mechanism comprising the cylinders 47 and 48. Tools for producing the tongues and tools for producing the openings are secured in alternating succession to the cylinder 47. Thus, for example, the tools 49 and 50 serve for producing the tongues, the tools 51 and 52 serving for producing the openings. The cylinder 48 is provided with the related counter tools.

One group of webs is deflected once again downstream of the roll 46 from the other group of webs. This may be effected by either Web-group 42 of web-group 43. In the drawings, the group 43 is deflected by the roll 53, after which the groups of webs meet again at the roll 54. The second deflection of one of the groups of webs also has to correspond to the distance between the joints on the webs or may be equal to a multiple thereof. In such a case, the tongues of one group of webs and the openings in the other group of webs will always arrive one above the other, although the tongues and the openings in the two groups of webs have been punched simultaneously.

The webs passing from the roll 54 through between the cylinders 55 and 56 are treated beween the latter by the tools provided on the cylinders in a manner similar to that described in connection with FIG. 4. In the case of the webs treated in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5, however, the tongues and the openings in individual successive joints are disposed alternately at the top and at the bottom. For this reason, the tongues in this system have to be pressed through alternately downwards and upwards. For this purpose the cylinder 55 carries the tools 57 and 58, and the cylinder 56 carries the tools 59 and 60, both cylinders being provided with the necessary recesses at the positions in-between.

The punching mechanism consisting of the cylinders 47 and 48 may also be so constructed that one of the cylinders contains the tools for producing the openings, the other cylinder containing the tools for producing the tongues. The difference between this construction and the construction illustrated in the drawing would thus consist in that, the tools 49 and 50 being retained on the cylinder 47, the tools 51 and 52 would have to be secured to the cylinder 48 in the same position, or vice 'versa. These differences do not afiect the disposition of the tongues and openings inthe individual webs.

It is advantageous, but not essential, for the tools by which the webs are punched and the tongues are pressed through, to be constructed as rotating tools. They may also be replaced by oscillating tools whose speed at the moment of punching corresponds to the speed of the webs. Where it is considered to be acceptable for the webs to be conveyed intermittently, stationary lifting mechanisms may also be used.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of interconnecting a plurality of web means, comprising the steps of:

providing first and second web means;

initially separating said first and second web means so that a substantial space exists therebetween; feeding said first web means to a first punching device 6 for forming alternate tongues and openings therein, said tongues being united at one end thereof with said first web means and the remainder of said tongues projecting outwardly away from said first web means;

feeding said second web means to a second punching device separate and spaced from the first punching device for forming alternate openings and tongues therein, the openings in said second web means being substantially spaced from the corresponding tongues of said first web means, and said openings in said second web means having a width less than the width of the corresponding tongues of said first web means adjacent the free ends thereof;

thereafter guiding said two web means into superimposed positions adjacent one another whereby the alternate tongues and openings of said first web means are positioned adjacent to and in substantial registry with the alternate openings and tongues of said second web means, respectively; and

then pressing the tongues of said first and second web means through the corresponding openings of said second and first web means, respectively, so that the said one ends of said tongues united to said first web means are positioned adjacent one side of said second web means while the free ends of said tongues are positioned near the opposite side of said second web means so as to interconnect said web means due to the free ends of said tongues being wider than said openings.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said tongues have a length greater than the length of the corresponding openings so that a portion of each tongue adjacent the free end thereof overlaps a portion of said second web means adjacent the corresponding openings when the tongues have been pressed throughthe corresponding openings to interconnect said first and second web means.

3. A method of interconnecting a plurality of web means, comprising the steps of:

providing first and second web means;

initially positioning said first and second web means substantially adjacent one another in superimposed V relationship;

forming alternate tongues and openings in said first and second superimposed web means so that said first web means has alternate tongues and openings formed therein alignment with corresponding tongues and openings, respectively, formed in said second web means, the tongues and openings formed in said first and second superimposed web means being laterally spaced from one another within the plane of the web means by a predetermined distance; displacing one of said web means relative to the other of said web means by a lateral distance at least substantially equal to said predetermined distance so that the alternate tongues and openings of said one web means are positioned adjacent toand in substantial registry with the openings and tongues, respectively, of the other web means; and pressing the tongues of said first and second -web means through the corresponding openings of said second and first web means, respectively, for interconnecting said web means.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the openings formed in the first and second superimposed web means have a configuration different from the configuration of the tongues formed in the first and second superimposed web means.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the tongues formed in the first and second web means have a width adjacent the free ends thereof which is greater than the width of the corresponding openings formed in the second and first web means, respectively.

6. Apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of webs, comprising:

means for positioning said first and second webs substantially adjacent one another in superimposed relationship;

punch means for forming alternate tongues and openings in said superimposed webs with said openings being laterally spaced in the plane of said webs a predetermined distance from Said tongues;

means for displacing a portion of one of said 'webs having the alternate tongues and openings formed therein relative to a portion of the other of said webs having the'alternate tongues and openings formed therein, said displacing means causing said portion of said one web to be laterally displaced relative to said portion of said other web by a distance at least substantially equal to said predetermined distance and repositioning said portions of said webs in substantially superimposed relationship with the alternate tongues and openings of said one web being positioned adjacent to and in substantial registry with the openings and tongues, respectively, of said other web; and

means for pressing the tongues of said first and second webs through the corresponding openings formed in said second and first webs, respectively, for interconnecting said first and second webs.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said displacement means includes a first guide member coacting with one of said webs for transversely deflecting said portion of said one web relative to said other web to create a substantial transverse spacing between said portion of said one web and said portion of said other web, and said displacement means further including a second guide member coacting with at least said one web for repositioning said web closely adjacent to said other web in substantially superimposed relationship therewith.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for superimposing said first and second webs comprises guide roller means for guiding said webs and positioning same closely adjacent one another;

said punch means including a pair of rotating punch rollers having a plurality of cooperating sets of punch members circumferentially spaced around the periphery thereof, at least one of said sets of cooperating punch members having cutting edges for creating a tongue in said superimposed webs, and at least another set of said cooperating punch members having cutting edges for creating an opening in said superimposed webs as said superimposed webs pass between said punch rollers; and

said displacement means including at least three guide roller members located downstream of said punch means and being positioned to coact with at least one of said webs, two of said guide roller members being positioned for maintaining portions of said one web in superimposed relationship with said other web, a third roller member being spaced between said two roller members and transversely spaced from said other web for causing a portion of said one web to be transversely displaced from said other web.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,002,554 5/1935 Townley 93l.l 2,935,002 5/1960 Robinson 93l.1 3,249,023 5/1966 Toby 931.l 3,303,083 2/1967 Hedenstrom 93l.l XR

ROBERT F. BURNETT, Primary Examiner R. H. CRISS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 16l-111; 27052 

